Public Notice
FCC Proposes $6 Million Fine Against Tracfone for Violating Lifeline Program Rules
The Federal Communications Commission proposed a $6,013,000 fine against TracFone Wireless, a prepaid wireless provider offering Lifeline service under the SafeLink Wireless brand, for apparent violations of the FCC’s Lifeline program rules. TracFone apparently claimed federal Lifeline funding for customers who were not actually determined to be eligible for the program, which helps make communications services more affordable for low-income Americans.In 2018, TracFone apparently sought and obtained federal Lifeline support for hundreds of ineligible subscribers in Florida.
FCC Fights COVID-19 with $200M; Adopts Long-Term Connected Care Study
The Federal Communications Commission voted to adopt a $200 million telehealth program to support healthcare providers responding to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Congress appropriated the funds as part of the CARES Act. Through the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, the FCC will help healthcare providers purchase telecommunications, broadband connectivity, and devices necessary for providing telehealth services. Funding applications from healthcare providers will be processed on a rolling basis.
Enhanced Wireless Emergency Alerts Available for Coronavirus Pandemic
The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) reminds authorized alert originators, including state and local governments, that the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system is available as a tool to provide life-saving information to the public during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, the Federal Communications Commission, together with the Federal Emergency
FCC Extends Key E-Rate Program Deadlines Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The Federal Communications Commission announced extensions of key E-Rate service implementation and filing deadlines to provide relief to program participants affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These extensions will alleviate administrative and compliance burdens on schools and libraries and enable them to focus on transitioning to remote learning during the pandemic.
Flexible Use of Competitive ETC Support
The Federal Communications Commission gave certain carriers flexibility to focus Universal Service Funds on hard-hit areas in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the waiver order allows competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to use their high-cost legacy support in the service areas of any affiliated ETC in order to respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19. FCC rules require all legacy high-cost support to be used in a particular service area.
Disruptions to Communications
The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on a proposed a framework to provide state and federal agencies with access to outage information to improve their situational awareness while preserving the confidentiality of this data, including proposals to: Provide direct, read-only access to NORS and DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Tribal nations, territories, and federal government; allow these agencies to share NORS and DIRS information with other public safety officials that reasonably require NORS and DIRS information to prepare for
FCC Adopts Items Before Tele-Meeting
The following items have been adopted by the Federal Communications Commission and deleted from the list of items scheduled for consideration at the March 31, 2020 Open Meeting.
FCC Acts to Support Connectivity on Tribal Reservation in New Mexico
The Federal Communications Commission has granted an emergency Special Temporary Authority request filed by A:shiwi College & Career Readiness Center to use unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum to provide wireless broadband service over the reservation of the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico in light of increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The A:shiwi College and Career Readiness Center, formerly the University of New Mexico Gallup-Zuni Campus, was established by the Zuni Tribe in 2016.
Keeping Lifeline Subscribers Connected During COVID-19
To help Americans stay connected during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau:
ReConnect Application Extension
The Rural Utilities Service extended the ReConnect second-round application window until midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on April 15, 2020.